Coin controlled cap remover



Nw., M, 193% 1. H. FITZPATRICK COIN CONTROLLED CAP REMOVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed F'eb 5, 1938 n Wr Patented Nov. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES COIN CONTROLLED CAP REMOVER Ira H. Fitzpatrick, Austin, Tex., assigner of onehalf to James L. Hudgins, Austin, Tex.

Application February 3, 1938, Serial No. 188,559

4 Claims.-

This invention appertains to new and useful improvements in cap removers and more particularly to a cap remover which can only be set for operation by the insertion of a coin.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a coin controlled cap remover for soft drink bottles and the like which will compel the patron to insert a coin equivalent to the price of the drink before he can gain access tothe cap remover to permit removal of the cap of the bottle acquired, as for instance, from a self-help ice box.

Another important object of the invention is to provide a coin controlled cap remover of the character stated which will be positive acting and substantially fool-proof in operation.

These and various other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to the reader of the following specification.

In the drawings: 'A

Figure 1 represents a front elevational View of the apparatus.

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows. Y

Figure 3 is an inside elevational view of the shell. v

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 4-lI of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure l looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary enlarged detailed sectional view taken substantially on the line E-B of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 'I-'I of Figure 5 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure is a perspective view of the release member.

Figure 9 is a side elevational view of the trigger arm.

Figure l is a perspective view of the latch member.

Referring to the drawings wherein like numerals designate like parts, it can be seen that numeral denotes the wall to which the apparatus generally referred to by numeral 6 is attached, such as the front wall of a soft drink ice box.

The apparatus consists of the plate 1 having suitably secured thereto the strips 8--9 defining together with the plate Illa a coin chute It), the

lower end of the strip 9 being beveled as at II to accommodate the lower end of the vertically rocking trigger arm I2 fulcrumed as at I3 on the plate 1 and which has .the spring I4 pulling on the lower end thereof 4so as to maintain the shoulder I5 at its upper end located under the reduced end portion I6 of the vertically rocking latch arm I1, which arm is fulcrumed as at I8 and provided with the broad latch plate I9V at its outer end p alignable with the cap removing lip 20 on the inner side of the hood formation 2I,`which hood formation 2| is suitably secured as atk 22 to the front of the shell 23.' j

The shell 23 forms a box-like casing for the trigger arm I2, latch arm I1, and other parts presently described `and which is open at its back, and upper and lower ends, and suitably secured to said plate 1 in front of the coin chute I0. A slot 23a, is provided in the front o f said shell 23 from which the latch plate I9 protrudes and whichis capped by the hood 'formation 2l into which said plate I9 extends and which closes the top of said shell. f

Numeral 24 represents a vertically disposed release member which is provided with the laterally disposed and beveled nger 25 at itsglower end, this'release member also being provided With the upstanding leg portion 2B which is pivotally connected as at 21 to a side wall28` of the shell 23. A tooth 29 at the upper end of the leg 26normally engages the under side of the latch arm I'I as shown in Figure 6. A spring 30 serves'topull the inner end of the latch member I'I upwardly so as to urge the plate I9 downwardly and normally maintain the reduced end I6 in position to'b'eI engaged by the shoulder I5 on the trigger arm I2.

The tooth 29 is held in yielding engagement with the arm I'I by the spring 3l suitably connected to the release member 26 and to the wall 28 to urge said member counter-clockwise.

As best shown in Figure 7, the lower end of the trigger arm I2 is interposed in the chute I0 at one side thereof in the path of movement of a coin dropping down said chute and to be rocked counter-clockwise by a coin wipingly engaging the lower end thereof, the spring I4 opposing such movement. The latch arm I'i is normally urged clockwise by the spring 30 and movement of said arm I1 counter clockwise is normally blocked by location of the shoulder I5 of the trigger arm I2 50 under the portion I6 thereof. Also the tooth 29 of release member 24 bears upwardly againstv the under side of latch arm I1 in olfset relation to the ulcrum I8 of said arm such that said release member under the urge of the spring 3I opposes 55 ment of the latch arm I'I the release member 24 is swung clockwise, the tooth 29 sliding against said arm. In the described balanced condition of the release member 24 the finger 25 thereof is spaced slightly from the plate 7, but in the chute I0, to provide for the 'requisite degree of clock- Wise movement of said member 24.

It can now be seen that a coin C dropped down the chute I will wipe past the lower end of the trigger arm I2 and cause the latter to 'swing counter-clockwise suiciently to release Ythe latch arm I'I, after which said coin will lodge on the finger-25. When the latch arm I'I is thus released it may be rocked counter-clockwise against the tension of the spring 3d by engagement of the cap of a bottle thrust upwardly into thehood 2I and against the plate I9, When the latch arm I'I is thus moved, the bottle cap may be engaged With the cap removing lip 20 toy remove said cap in the usual manner. As soon as the latch arm I1 is thus rocked the member 24 is released for movement counter-clockwise under the urge of the spring ZI to permit the coin to drop oil? the nnger 25. A depository 33 is provided beneath the shell 23 for receiving the coins. The depository 33 is provided With a window 34 for inspection purposes, and a suitable lock 35 by means of which it may be attached to the lower edge 36 of the shell 33 in any suitable manner. I

Whilethe foregoing specication sets forth the invention in specific terms, it is to be understood that numerous changes in the shape, size and materials may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed hereinafter. v

Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a coin controlled bottle cap remover, a casing, ahoodlike cap remover on the casing adapted for the insertion of the neck of a bottle thereinto, a closure member for said cap remover pivotedin said casing to extend into the cap remover andj for swinging movement in opposite directions into opening and closing positions, respectively, a coin chute extending into said casing,

spectively, a coin chute extending into said casing, and means in said casing normally locking said member against opening movement and operative to unlock the same under the control of a coindeposited in said chute, and including a pivoted trigger arm normally blocking opening movement ofvsaid member and movable under the impact of a coin thereagainst from blocking pof sition.

3. Ina coin controlled bottle cap remover, a casing, a hood-like cap remover on the casing adapted for the insertion of the neck of a bottle thereinto, a closure member for said cap remover pivoted in said casing to extend into the cap remover and for swinging movement in opposite directions into opening and closing positions, respectively, a coin chute extending into said casing, means in the casing normally locking said member against opening movement and operative to unlock the samel under the control of a coin deposited in said chute, and means in said casing to block the passage of a coin out of said chute operative under control of said member to release the coin. p

4. In a coin controlled bottle cap remover, a casing, a gravity coin chute extending into said casing, a hood-like cap remover on the casing for the insertion of the neck of avbottle thereinto, a closure member for said remover pivoted in said casing to extend into said remover and for swinging movement into opening and closing positions, respectively, means in said casing for locking said member against opening movement operative to unlock the same under the impact of a coin gravitating dovvn said chute and including a trigger arm normally engaging said member and imparting under initial operation thereof a limited degree of movement to said member, and means in said casing to block passage of the coin out or" said chute comprising a holding dog pivoted for swinging movement into the path of travel of said coin in said chute and operative by said member into said path under movement of the member in said limited degree.

IRA H. FITZPATRICK.

UJI 

